Lung Cancer Screening Navigator - Band 4

Job summary

The Lung Cancer Screening Navigator plays a key role in supporting the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme and Targeted Lung Health Check pathway. The post holder will coordinate patients throughout their screening and diagnostic journey, ensuring timely progression in line with national standards, Cancer Waiting Times requirements and the Faster Diagnosis Standard.

The Navigator will act as a central point of contact for patients, clinicians and partner organisations. Responsibilities include arranging appointments and investigations, monitoring pathways, identifying delays and escalating concerns to support timely diagnosis and treatment.

The post holder will coordinate multidisciplinary team processes, prepare documentation, record outcomes and maintain effective communication across services. They will work closely with clinicians, diagnostic teams, primary care and external providers to ensure patients receive coordinated care.

The role also involves maintaining accurate patient records and programme datasets, supporting reporting requirements, performance monitoring and service assurance. Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities are essential.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a nationally important early diagnosis programme, helping improve patient experience and cancer outcomes across Lincolnshire while supporting the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care.

Main duties of the job

The Lung Cancer Screening Navigator will provide administrative and coordination support to the Lung Cancer Screening Programme, ensuring patients receive timely care throughout their screening and diagnostic journey.

Acting as a key contact for patients, clinicians and partner organisations, the post holder will coordinate patients through the Targeted Lung Health Check pathway. Duties include arranging appointments and investigations, monitoring progress, identifying delays and escalating concerns to support timely diagnosis.

The role includes supporting multidisciplinary team meetings, preparing documentation, recording outcomes and progressing agreed actions. The post holder will work closely with clinical teams, diagnostic services and external organisations to support communication and patient progression.

The Navigator will maintain accurate patient records and programme datasets, undertaking data collection, validation and reporting to support performance monitoring and national requirements. High standards of data quality, confidentiality and information governance must be maintained.

The post holder will communicate professionally and compassionately with patients, responding to enquiries and providing updates. Strong organisational, communication and prioritisation skills are essential, together with the ability to manage a busy workload.

About us

Lincoln Hospital is a thriving university city and with the opening of the medical school, it provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been granted teaching hospital status, after demonstrating evidence to significant teaching commitment. From now on it will be known as United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Pilgrim Hospital is situated in beautiful countryside and serves the communities in the South Lincolnshire area. It provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

Grantham and District Hospital serves the communities of Grantham and the local area. It provides ambulatory paediatric and accident and emergency services.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have come together in a Group arrangement, with the goal of improving the care provided to patients across the county.

This will not constitute a formal merger of the two organisations, but will bring the Trusts together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team, with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across Lincolnshire. Both Trusts will retain their separate statutory names and legal obligations.

The Group will be known as Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).

Job responsibilities

The Lung Cancer Screening Navigator is responsible for providing comprehensive administrative and pathway coordination support to the Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) Programme and Targeted Lung Health Check (TLHC) service. The post holder will play a key role in ensuring patients receive timely, safe and effective care throughout the screening and diagnostic pathway, supporting the delivery of national cancer standards and early diagnosis objectives.

The post holder will coordinate patients through all stages of the screening pathway, ensuring investigations, appointments, multidisciplinary discussions and follow-up actions are arranged and completed within agreed timescales. They will proactively monitor patient progress, maintain pathway oversight and identify any actual or potential delays, taking appropriate action to resolve issues or escalate concerns where required. The role is essential in supporting the timely diagnosis of lung cancer and maintaining compliance with national programme requirements.

A significant part of the role involves managing and supporting multidisciplinary team (MDT) processes. This includes preparing agendas and supporting documentation, coordinating attendance, recording outcomes, distributing actions and ensuring decisions are accurately documented and implemented. The post holder will work closely with clinicians, operational teams, diagnostic services and external partners to facilitate effective communication and seamless patient progression across organisational boundaries.

The Lung Cancer Screening Navigator will maintain accurate and comprehensive patient and programme records using a range of clinical and administrative information systems. Responsibilities include data collection, validation, reporting and quality assurance activities to support local performance monitoring and national reporting requirements. The post holder will ensure all information is recorded and managed in accordance with information governance standards, local policies and programme protocols.

The role requires regular communication with patients, carers and healthcare professionals. The post holder will provide information regarding appointments, investigations and pathway progression, responding to enquiries in a professional, compassionate and confidential manner. They will communicate with individuals who may be anxious or require reassurance, ensuring patients are supported throughout their screening journey and understand the next steps in their care.

Working independently within established policies and procedures, the post holder will prioritise a varied workload, manage competing demands and exercise judgement when identifying issues requiring escalation. They will contribute to service improvement initiatives, audits, reporting activities and the ongoing development of the Lung Cancer Screening Programme. The role also includes maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues across the Cancer Centre, Respiratory Medicine, Diagnostics, Primary Care and external organisations to support high-quality pathway management and service delivery.

By providing expert pathway coordination, robust administrative support and accurate performance management information, the Lung Cancer Screening Navigator will make a significant contribution to achieving Cancer Waiting Times and Faster Diagnosis Standard targets, while ensuring patients experience a coordinated, efficient and patient-centred diagnostic pathway.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience in an administrative or healthcare setting
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Training in cancer services, screening programmes or health administration

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in an administrative or coordination role
• Experience of managing data, records or tracking processes

Desirable

• Experience working in cancer services or screening programmes
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of administrative processes within healthcare
• Knowledge of patient confidentiality and information governance

Desirable

• Understanding of Lung Cancer Screening/Targeted Lung Health Checks
• Good working knowledge of cancer pathways, including Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS)

Skills

Essential

• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• IT proficiency across multiple systems and databases

Desirable

• Data analysis and reporting skills
• Experience coordinating MDT meetings

Specific Requirements

Essential

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
• Flexible approach to cross-site working

Desirable

• Experience supporting service improvement initiatives

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Professional, reliable and proactive approach
• Compassionate and patient-focused attitude
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism
• Strong attention to detail